Greek authorities are considering adopting a law that would allow
same-sex couples to be recognised by a civil ceremony, the country's
NET TV said on Monday.

The Greek Justice Ministry pledged to establish a working group on
the rights of gay couples living together, which would "analyse all
aspects of the issue, international practice and the existing
domestic legal and social framework."

The New Democracy-led government is expected to introduce legislation
later in the year that will offer several rights to unmarried couples.

The Minister of Justice has announced to the media that the
government is against discrimination and will therefore include
same-sex unions in the legislation.

This announcement has caused anger in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki said that such a decision would
degrade the human species and "make them equal to animals."

However, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens has distanced himself from
the Holy Synod's stance on the issue of cohabitation between
unmarried couples saying that the Church "should be more open-minded
and less moralistic."

Chruch's governing synod described moves by the Greek government to
afford unmarried or defacto couples the same legal rights as their
married counterparts as a "catastrophic bomb" which threatened Greek
society and compared the move to "prostitution."

The Greek government is hoping new legislation will align with
similar laws throughout Europe.

The government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis remains opposed to
same-sex marriage.

A survey published on December 2006 showed that 16% of Greeks
surveyed support same-sex marriage and 11% recognise same-sex
couple's right to adopt.

These figures are considerably below the 27-member European Union
average of 44% and 33% respectively and place Greece in the lowest
ranks of the European Union along with Poland, Latvia, Lithuania,
Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus.

Gays are still barred from entering the military.

However, homosexuals in Greece are still seeking a greater voice
within their country in recent years, which culminated in the first
Gay Pride parade in 2005.

A Greek lesbian couple in Athens are due to attempt to marry in a
civil ceremony in the country's first same-sex marriage.

The law does not explicitly proclaim a civil union must take place
between a man and a woman, the couple are hoping to take advantage.

The ceremony is set to take place in the Kessariani quarter of Athens
and will be officiated by the town's mayor.

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